All Chapters of The CEO’s Accidental Bride: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The hospital was too quiet.Too clean.Too calm—compared to the chaos that had just unfolded hours ago.Emily sat on the edge of the hospital bed, her fingers gripping the thin blanket as if it could ground her.Her lungs still burned slightly with every breath.The smell of smoke lingered faintly in her senses.And no matter how many times she blinked—The image of the fire refused to leave her mind.“You inhaled too much smoke.”Emily looked up.Adrian stood across the room, speaking with the doctor.His posture was rigid.Controlled.But something about him felt… off.“She needs rest,” the doctor continued. “No stress, no exertion. At least for the next few days.”“I’m fine,” Emily said quickly.Both men turned toward her.The doctor frowned.“You’re not.”Emily straightened slightly, forcing a small smile.“I can breathe. I’m not injured. I don’t need to stay here.”The doctor sighed, clearly unconvinced.“You were exposed to smoke in an enclosed space. That’s not something to tak

The ride back from the hospital was silent.Not the usual kind of silence.This one was different.Heavier.Colder.Emily sat by the window, her gaze fixed on the passing city lights.But she wasn’t really seeing them.Her mind replayed Lena’s words over and over again.“Don’t fall for him.”“When he decides you’re no longer useful…”She clenched her hands tightly on her lap.I won’t, she told herself.This was a contract.Nothing more.She had to remember that.Beside her, Adrian said nothing.But he noticed.The way she didn’t look at him.The way she didn’t speak.The way the air between them had changed.“You’re quiet.”Emily didn’t turn.“I’m tired.”A simple answer.Too simple.Adrian’s gaze lingered on her.“You weren’t this quiet earlier.”She let out a small breath.“That was before.”A pause.“Before what?” he asked.Emily finally turned her head slightly—Just enough to look at him.“Before I remembered what this is.”Silence.The words settled between them.Sharp.Clear.A

The tension in the room didn’t fade.It thickened.Daniel cleared his throat again, clearly uncomfortable.“I think I should—”“No,” Adrian said.The word cut through the air.Firm.Final.Emily frowned.“Adrian.”He didn’t look at her.His gaze stayed on Daniel.“Finish what you were saying.”Daniel hesitated.Then nodded.“…Right. As I was saying,” he continued, pointing at the screen, “if we move the remaining assets into a controlled account, we can slow down the damage.”Emily leaned in again, focusing.“Yes, that gives us time to trace the next move.”Adrian watched.Closely.Too closely.The way they stood near each other.The way they spoke—easily.Naturally.Like they understood each other.His jaw tightened.“Step back.”Emily blinked.“What?”Adrian’s voice lowered.“You’re too close.”Silence.Daniel straightened slightly.“I didn’t realize—”“You don’t need to realize,” Adrian cut in.His eyes shifted to Emily.“You just need to listen.”Emily stared at him.Slowly—Her e

The space between them felt charged.Heavy.Dangerous.Emily didn’t step back.And neither did Adrian.They stood there—Too close.Too aware.“You’re testing limits you don’t understand,” he repeated.Emily’s heart pounded.“Then explain them,” she said again.Silence.His jaw tightened.Because he couldn’t.Because there were no clear rules anymore.“Or is it,” Emily continued, her voice quieter now, “that you don’t actually know what those limits are?”That hit.Adrian’s eyes darkened.“You think this is a game?”“No,” she said.A pause.“I think you’re confused.”Silence fell.Sharp.Adrian stepped closer.If there had been any space left—It was gone now.“You’re the one who’s confused,” he said lowly.Her breath caught.“Am I?”Their eyes locked.Unmoving.Unyielding.“Then tell me,” Emily whispered.The words slipped out—Before she could stop them.“What exactly am I to you?”Silence.Everything stilled.The air.The moment.Even him.Because that—That was the question.The o

The air shifted the moment Adrian spoke.“Enjoying yourself?”Emily felt it immediately.The tension.The weight of his gaze.Cold.Sharp.Possessive.She turned fully to face him.“We were just having lunch.”Adrian’s eyes flicked briefly to Daniel—Then back to her.“I can see that.”His tone was calm.Too calm.Daniel stepped forward slightly.“Mr. Kingsley, we were discussing—”“That won’t be necessary.”The interruption was immediate.Final.Silence fell.Heavy.Emily frowned.“Adrian—”“Come here.”The words weren’t loud.But they weren’t a request either.Emily didn’t move.“No.”A pause.Then—Adrian stepped closer.Slow.Deliberate.“Don’t make me repeat myself.”Her chest tightened.“You don’t get to order me around.”Daniel shifted beside her.“Maybe we should—”“I said no,” Emily cut in.Her voice steady now.Firm.The tension snapped tighter.Adrian stopped in front of her.Close.Too close.“You said you understood the situation,” he said quietly.“I do.”“Then act like